Two Kapu BJP Leaders In AP Feel Sidelined

Chandrababu Naidu and Venkaiah Naidu have been successful so far in frustrating the attempts of their detractors in the BJP to gain ascendency.

Kanna Laxminarayana (Left) and Somu Veerraju (Right)

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu have succeeded in insulating BJP national president Amit Shah from the influence of the dissidents in the BJP. Although former Union ministers Purandeswari and Kavuri Sambasiva Rao were vocal in their criticism of the TDP, Amit Shah left Vijayawada on the 25th with a strong opinion that there is no need to disturb the present arrangement with the TDP. He may have different ideas on Telangana, but on Andhra Pradesh he is not going to take any drastic decision.

Shah was told that slogans and placards in the public meeting at Vijayawada exhorting the party leadership to quit the alliance to save the party were organised by the dissident leaders like Somu Veerraju and Kanna Laxminarayana. Shah was convinced that it was an act of indiscipline which should not be tolerated.

Veerraju was waiting in the wings to become president of AP unit of the BJP. Venkaiah Naidu is understood have persuaded Amit Shah to defer a decision first. With the latest development, Verraju has ceased to be in good books of the national president. Another Kapu leader, Kanna Laxminarayana, has been feeling like a fish out of water. BJP Minister Srinivasa Rao has not been very friendly with him. He was also hoping to be considered for the top post in the party organisation in AP. But he is finding it difficult to meet Amitb Shah. If things continue to go this way, he might join YSRCP before elections. The strategy of Chandrababu Naidu to keep his detractors in the BJP away from positions has been successful so far.